Samuel Holberry

Samuel Holberry

Samuel Holberry (1816 - 21 June 1842) was a prominent Chartist activist.

Early Years

Holberry moved to Sheffield in the 1830s, where he married Mary Holberry and began working as a distiller.

Together with other activists campaigning to extend the political rights given by the Reform Act 1832, he engaged in a number of peaceful protests. After a rebellion in Newport, Monmouthshire now known as the Newport Rising was put down in 1839, then Samuel and a group of conspirators planned a Sheffield Rising.

Radical Chartism

The groups began to organise a militia, and supposedly "provided themselves with arms, and fixed upon a plan for taking some, and firing other parts of the town. That they had agreed to strike down every policeman and watchman that they might meet, and catch the soldiers before they could fire upon them. The barracks were to be fired, and the insurgents were to possess themselves of the Town Hall and Tontine, which they were to defend with the barricades."

The plot was exposed by the landlord of a pub in Rotherham who had infiltrated the group. Leaders were identified, and both Samuel and Mary were arrested. In contrast to many members of the group, Samuel freely admitted that he had aimed to upset the Government and was willing to die for the Charter. He was convicted of conspiracy to riot and sedition and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. Placed in Northallerton House of Correction, he was illegally put on the treadwheel.

Death in Prison

In gaol, Samuel developed consumption and died after being transferred to York Castle. He was buried in Sheffield General Cemetery, 50,000 people attending his funeral.

In the 1980s, Sheffield City Council commemorated Holberry by naming a fountain in the Peace Gardens for him. This was removed during renovations and replaced by the "Holberry Cascades".

References

* [http://www.gencem.org/explore/residents/holberry.html Sheffield General Cemetery: Samuel Holberry]
* [http://www.chartists.net/Sheffield-Chartists.htm Sheffield Chartists]
* [http://www.chartists.net/Political-prisoners-1841.htm Political prisoners 1841]
* [http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/out--about/tourist-information/visitor-attractions/green-spaces-gardens/the-peace-gardens/the-holberry-cascades Sheffield City Council: Special Features - The Holberry Cascades]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/sense_of_place/cemetery/frightful.shtml BBC - South Yorkshire Sense of Place: Frightful Farewells....]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Chartism — was a movement for political and social reform in the United Kingdom during the mid 19th century, between 1838 and 1859. It takes its name from the People s Charter of 1838. Chartism was possibly the first mass working class labour movement in… …   Wikipedia

  • Peace Gardens — The Peace Gardens are an inner city square in Sheffield, England. It was created as part of the Heart of the City project, under the jurisdiction of Sheffield One.The Gardens themselves front onto Sheffield s gothic town hall (not to be confused… …   Wikipedia

  • List of people from Sheffield — This is a list of notable people who were born in or near, or have been residents of the City of Sheffield, England. Those born in Sheffield are listed in boldface. Arts and Humanities * Samuel Bailey, philosopher and authorcite encyclopedia… …   Wikipedia

  • Sheffield General Cemetery — The General Cemetery is a cemetery in the City of Sheffield, England that opened in 1836, and closed for burial in 1978.cite web | title=The Sheffield General Cemetery | work=Friends of the General Cemetery | url=http://www.gencem.org/index.html… …   Wikipedia

  • Newport Rising — The attack of the Chartists on the Westgate Hotel The Newport Rising was the last large scale armed rebellion against authority in mainland Britain, when on 4 November 1839, somewhere between 1,000 and 5,000 Chartist sympathisers, including many… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”